Which one of the following statements about ranks and insignia in the Indian Army is correct?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of rank structure and insignia in the Indian Army. Defence awareness is a frequent theme in general knowledge examinations, and aspirants are expected to know basic facts about officer ranks, especially changes such as the abolition of older ranks and the distinction between ceremonial and substantive ranks.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Four statements about ranks and postings in the Indian Army are provided.
• The task is to identify the single correct statement among them.
• We assume the commonly accepted structure of officer ranks and command arrangements.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to evaluate each statement in the light of standard military knowledge. We must know the relative order of ranks, understand which ranks are currently in use, and distinguish between rare ceremonial ranks and the usual rank held by the Chief of Army Staff. We also need to understand that tri service commands do not change an officer service identity or rank pattern.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider statement A: the rank of Second Lieutenant has been abolished. In the Indian Army, the entry level rank for commissioned officers used to be Second Lieutenant but this rank has been discontinued, and fresh officers are now commissioned as Lieutenant. Thus statement A is correct. Step 2: Examine statement B: it says that the Chief of Army Staff carries the rank of Field Marshal. In India, Field Marshal is a very rare, ceremonial five star rank, conferred only on select individuals in the past. The Chief of Army Staff normally holds the rank of General, not Field Marshal. So statement B is incorrect. Step 3: Review statement C: it suggests that all officers posted to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands wear Indian Navy ranks. The Andaman and Nicobar Command is a tri service Command, but officers retain the ranks of their respective services. Army officers do not convert to Navy rank insignia. Hence statement C is incorrect. Step 4: Assess statement D: it says that the rank of Major General is higher than the rank of Lieutenant General. In fact, the sequence is Brigadier, Major General, Lieutenant General, then General. Therefore Lieutenant General is senior to Major General. Statement D is false. Step 5: Since only statement A matches correct defence knowledge, it is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can consult any standard listing of officer ranks in the Indian Army that shows the hierarchy and the star insignia. These sources consistently show that the lowest commissioned rank is now Lieutenant, confirming that Second Lieutenant is no longer used for new commissions. They also list Field Marshal as a ceremonial rank rarely conferred, which supports the conclusion that the Chief of Army Staff does not functionally hold that rank. This cross check again leaves statement A as the only valid option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• The Chief of Army Staff is a General, not a Field Marshal, so statement B is wrong.
• Tri service postings in Andaman and Nicobar Command do not alter the service identity or rank insignia of officers, so statement C is wrong.
• Major General is junior to Lieutenant General in the rank hierarchy, which makes statement D clearly incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse ceremonial ranks with operational posts and assume that the head of the Army must hold the highest sounding title. Others misremember the rank order or assume that the prefix Major automatically signals a higher rank than Lieutenant at all levels. Some aspirants also think that tri service commands use a common rank system, which is not the case. Careful study of the actual rank ladder and of reforms such as the removal of Second Lieutenant helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The rank of Second Lieutenant has been abolished in the Indian Army.